Venezuela

Trump says he plans first U.S. presidential visit to Venezuela in nearly 30 years as Washington eases oil sanctions WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Friday he plans to visit Venezuela, a move that would make him the first sitting U.S. president to travel to the country since Bill Clinton in 1997, as his administration loosened key restrictions on the South American nation’s energy sector. Trump announced the intent as he departed the White House for Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he met soldiers involved in the…

U.S. eases some Venezuela oil sanctions, opening trade for American firms WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has lifted some sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry to make it easier for U.S. companies to move and process the country’s crude, even as broader restrictions on production remain in place, according to the Treasury Department. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a general license authorizing U.S. entities to buy, sell, transport, store and refine Venezuelan-origin oil. The measure is intended…

Irish citizen among group freed from Venezuelan prisons lands in Prague, officials say An Irish citizen previously imprisoned in Venezuela has arrived in Prague amid a wave of detainee releases involving several European nationals, according to RTÉ News and Reuters. Reuters reported that a plane carrying freed Irish, Polish, Romanian and Czech citizens landed at Prague’s Vaclav Havel Airport, where relatives had gathered to meet them. Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs said it was aware of the case involving an Irish…

Machado says Venezuela entering ‘true transition to democracy’ as U.S. backs Rodriguez; Nobel medal gesture to Trump draws scrutiny Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said the country is beginning a “true transition to democracy” and called for free and fair elections “as soon as possible,” using a Washington appearance to press her case for broad participation at the polls. “We are definitely now into the first steps of a true transition to democracy,” Machado said, adding that the shift would have “an…

Venezuela says it has freed more than 400 people from prison as part of an ongoing release process, though local rights groups dispute the figure and say only 60 to 70 detainees have been released in recent days. National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announced the releases without providing a timeline. The pledge follows public statements last week by Rodríguez and U.S. President Donald Trump that large numbers of detainees would be freed as a peace gesture after what officials in both countries described as the U.S.…

Senate advances measure to curb Trump’s war powers on Venezuela as president touts long-term U.S. oversight The U.S. Senate voted 52-47 to advance a resolution that would bar President Donald Trump from taking further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization, a rare bipartisan rebuke as the White House signals years-long involvement in the oil-rich nation. The procedural vote moved the war powers measure toward a final Senate vote with a handful of Republicans joining all Democrats. Even if it…

Senate advances bipartisan bid to curb Trump’s military actions in Venezuela after Maduro capture WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday cleared a key procedural hurdle on a resolution to rein in President Donald Trump’s military actions in Venezuela, a rare bipartisan rebuke that follows alarm over the secretive capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The Democratic-led measure, which would bar further U.S. hostilities against Venezuela without explicit congressional authorization, advanced with the support of five…

U.S. President Donald Trump said Venezuela’s interim government will deliver up to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, with proceeds from the sale “controlled by me” as president to benefit people in both countries. He announced the move would be executed immediately by Energy Secretary Chris Wright. “The Interim Authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 MILLION Barrels of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil, to the United States of America,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, adding that…

UNITED NATIONS — A stark divide over sovereignty and the use of force split the U.N. Security Council during an emergency session as the United States defended the capture and prosecution of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, even as critics warned the move tramples international law and sets a perilous precedent. Diplomats arrived stone-faced for the hastily convened meeting in New York. None stopped to speak with reporters except U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz, who said, “It’s good to see justice,” shortly before Maduro and his…

African Union and Member States React to U.S. Intervention in Venezuela The African Union (AU), along with several countries including Ghana, Uganda, and South Africa, has expressed significant concern over the recent U.S. intervention in Venezuela. This situation escalated when U.S. authorities seized President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, as part of an indictment involving drug and weapon charges. In an official statement, the AU stated it would be "following with grave concern the recent developments in…